Best PSC / PCS / STATE PCS online Current Affairs

Current Affairs MAY-2021

Showing 21 - 40 of 400 entries

21. For the crop year 2021-22, what is the food grain production target fixed by the Government of India?

A
201.31 million tonnes

B
307.31 million tonnes

C
405.71 million tonnes

D
500 million tonnes

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [307.31 million tonnes]

Explaination : [The Government of India has fixed the food grain production target for crop year 2021-22 at a record high of 307.31 million tonnes. This high target has bene envisaged amidst the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic and the associated supply side disruptions. This target is 1.3% more than the previous year’s estimated food grain production.]

22. Operation Samudra Setu-II has been launched by ……….?

A
All India Institute of Medical Science

B
IIT Bombay

C
Indian Navy

D
INOX Air Products Ltd

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Indian Navy]

Explaination : [The Indian Navy has launched the Operation Samudra Setu-II, under which Indian Naval warships would ship liquid oxygen filled cryogenic containers from foreign nations. As a part of the operation, two naval ships INS Kolkata and INS Talwar have been deployed to bring oxygen from Bahrain to Mumbai.]

23. What is the name given to a privately pooled investment fund, in the form of a trust/ company/ LLP is called a …………?

A
Alternative Investment Fund

B
Hedge Fund

C
Private Equity Fund

D
ReIT Fund

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Alternative Investment Fund]

Explaination : [As per SEBI, Alternative Investment Fund means any privately pooled investment fund established in India which collects funds from sophisticated investors, (Indian or foreign), for investing as per a defined investment policy for the benefit of its investors. The Union Labour ministry has notified the changes in the investment pattern of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). It has permitted the body to invest up to 5% of its surplus in alternate investment funds (AIFs) which support infrastructure, MSMEs, venture capital funds and social venture capital funds.]

24. Turkey has brought which type of firms into the ambit of anti-money laundering and terrorism financing regulation?

A
Pharmaceutical Firms

B
Money Exchange Firms

C
Foreign Exchange Firms

D
Cryptocurrency Trading Firms

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [Cryptocurrency Trading Firms]

Explaination : [The Government of Turkey’s official gazette recently added the firms involved in Cryptocurrency Trading, into the ambit of anti-money laundering and terrorism financing regulation. This amendment has come into force with immediate effect. This regulation includes all crypto asset service providers operating the country. German’s central bank has banned the use of cryptocurrency for payments and settlements.]

25. When is the World Press Freedom Day observed every year?

A
May 1

B
May 3

C
May 10

D
May 20

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [May 3]

Explaination : [Every year, 3rd May is observed as World Press Freedom Day by the United Nations. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared this day to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and to lay emphasis on the right to freedom of expression. A resolution in this regard was passed by the UN in the year 1993.]

26. Xylophis deepaki, a new species of snake, is endemic to which state?

A
Maharashtra

B
Tamil Nadu

C
Andhra Pradesh

D
Kerala

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Tamil Nadu]

Explaination : [Xylophis deepaki, which is a 20 cm long tiny snake with iridescent scales is a species which is endemic to the state of Tamil Nadu. It is also found in southern part of the Western Ghats. The species has been named to honour Indian herpetologist Deepak Veerappan, for his contribution in erecting a new subfamily Xylophiinae to accommodate wood snakes]

27. T Rabi Sankar, who was seen in the news has been appointed as ……………?

A
Chairman of SEBI

B
CEO of NITI Aayog

C
Deputy Governor of RBI

D
Chief of Army Staff

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Deputy Governor of RBI]

Explaination : [T.Rabi Shankar has been appointed as the new Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI). He succeeds B P Kanungo, whose term ended on 2nd April 2021. Presently, Mahesh Kumar Jain, Michael Patra and Rajeshwar Rao are the three Dy. Governors and Rabi Shankar joined them as the fourth.]

28. What is “VINCOV-19”?

A
Mutated Corona Virus

B
Covid Vaccine candidate

C
Oxygen support mechanism

D
Engineered Antibody product

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [Engineered Antibody product]

Explaination : [‘VINCOV-19’ is an engineered therapeutic antibody which has been found to effectively neutralize SARS-CoV-2. It has been engineered in a collaborative effort by University of Hyderabad (UoH), CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR-CCMB) and Vins Bioproducts Ltd. This has obtained the approval from Drugs Controller General of India (DGCI) for clinical trials.]

29. When is the International Fire-Fighters Day observed every year?

A
May 1

B
May 4

C
May 10

D
May 15

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [May 4]

Explaination : [Every year, the International Firefighters’ Day is observed each year on 4th May, to commemorate and remember the firefighters who have died while serving various communities. It also aims to show solidarity and support to all the present firefighters across the globe, who continue to render selfless sacrifice and service. This day is depicted by a bi colored ribbon with red representing fire and blue representing water.]

30. “N-protein” has been found to be associated with what?

A
Corona Virus

B
Human immune system

C
Plant nutrient

D
Malnutrition

Show Answer

Correct Answer : A [Corona Virus]

Explaination : [A team of researchers in Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal have studied “N-protein” in Covid virus. It has been found that this N Protein promotes the incorporation of the spike protein into viral particles. The infectivity levels of the virus have been found to significantly vary with the levels of N Protein present in it.]

31. Where is “West Khasi Hills District” located?

A
Tamil Nadu

B
Kerala

C
Uttar Pradesh

D
Meghalaya

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [Meghalaya]

Explaination : [Researchers have found the fossil bone fragments of sauropods – a long neck dinosaur at West Khasi Hills District in Meghalaya. The fossil is assumed to be about 100-million-years old. This finding makes Meghalaya the 5th state in India after Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu to report Sauropod bones.]

32. Raniganj coalfield, the first field where the East India Company began coal mining, is located in which state?

A
Jharkhand

B
Bihar

C
West Bengal

D
Assam

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [West Bengal]

Explaination : [The East India Company exploited the Raniganj coalfield along the western bank of Damodar River, West Bengal, thereby starting the Coal mining in India in 1774. Every year, Coal Miners Day is observed on May 4 in solidarity with the miners working in coal fields. An international Co-operation with the advanced coal-producing countries is also being considered.]

33. Satyajit ray, the legendary film maker and author, was from which state?

A
Odisha

B
Assam

C
West Bengal

D
Maharashtra

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [West Bengal]

Explaination : [Satyajit Ray was an Indian film maker, author, lyricist, magazine editor, illustrator and music composer. He belonged to West Bengal and was recipient of Padma Bhushan in 1965, Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1985, and the Bharat Ratna. To commemorate his achievement, Union information and broadcasting ministry has announced that it will organize year long centenary celebrations of the filmmaker in India and abroad.]

34. The CCEA approved the strategic disinvestment of which bank, owned by the Government of India and LIC?

A
Lakshmi Vilas Bank

B
IDBI Bank

C
UCO Bank

D
Punjab and Maharashtra Coop Bank

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [IDBI Bank]

Explaination : [The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its in-principle approval for strategic disinvestment along with transfer of management control in IDBI Bank. However, the extent of shareholding to be divested by the Government of India and LIC shall be decided at the time of the transaction in consultation with Reserve Bank of India (RBI). ]

35. What is the primary objective of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana?

A
To expand MGNREGS

B
To provide free food-grains

C
To provide crop insurance

D
To provide financial assistance to farmers

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [To provide free food-grains]

Explaination : [Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana is a food security welfare scheme announced by the Government of India in March 2020. Its primary objective is to provide free food grains to the eligible beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act. The Union Cabinet recently approved the allocation of additional food grain to NFSA beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (Phase III) for a period of two months — May and June 2021.]

36. Who was Manas Bihari Verma?

A
Politician

B
Aeronautical Scientist

C
Doctor

D
Social Activist

Show Answer

Correct Answer : B [Aeronautical Scientist]

Explaination : [Manas Bihari Verma – a reputed aeronautical scientist and Padma Shri Awardee died recently of suffering a massive heart attack. He was 78 years old. He has been the man behind the country’s first Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) ‘Tejas’ and has closely worked with former president Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam.]

37. At what rate, RBI would lend banks under the On-tap liquidity facility for health care needs?

A
Bank Rate

B
MCLR

C
Repo Rate

D
CRR Rate

Show Answer

Correct Answer : C [Repo Rate]

Explaination : [The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced an “On-tap liquidity facility” for Bank Amounting Rs.50,000 crore. RBI would lend banks at Repo rate and banks would use the proceeds to lend for health care needs. The scheme would be available till March 31, 2022. The loan extended by Banks to health care needs would be classified as Priority Sector Lending till its repayment.]

38. Who was Manas Bihari Verma?

A
Politician

B
Aeronautical Scientist

C
Doctor

D
Social Activist

Show Answer

39. What is S&P Global Ratings’ new GDP forecast for India in 2021-22?

D
9.8%

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [9.8%]

Explaination : [India’s GDP forecast for the FY 2021-22 has been revised to 9.8% by S&P Global Ratings recently. The rating has been downgraded from its earlier projections of 11%. This downgrade comes in the wake of the second COVID wave in India. The agency stated that the second wave could weaken the economic recovery.]

40. Which organisation has released the State of the World’s Midwifery (SoWMy) 2021, in association with UNFPA and WHO?

A
UNICEF

B
UNHRC

C
UNESCO

D
International Confederation of Midwives

Show Answer

Correct Answer : D [International Confederation of Midwives]

Explaination : [The International Confederation of Midwives in association with UNFPA, WHO and Novametrics, has recently released a report titled “The State of the World’s Midwifery (SoWMy) 2021”. The report details the Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Adolescent Health (SRMNAH) workforce from about 194 countries. It also identifies the barriers and challenges in future advancement.]